The Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai is set for a high-profile triangular contest, with AIADMK candidate R Santhanakrishnan and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) nominee V S Babu taking on DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is seeking a fourth consecutive victory from the seat in the April 23 Assembly elections.
Stalin, who has represented Kolathur since 2011, had won the constituency in the 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections, turning it into a stronghold for the DMK. In 2021, he secured a victory margin of 70,384 votes against the AIADMK candidate.
Though Kolathur has a total of 35 candidates in the fray, the contest is largely expected to be a three-way fight between the DMK, AIADMK and TVK.
The AIADMK candidate R Santhanakrishnan, a former Chennai Corporation councillor, and TVK candidate V S Babu, a former AIADMK functionary and now joint general secretary of actor Vijay’s party, have been actively campaigning across the constituency.
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Babu has alleged that key issues such as unemployment and infrastructure gaps remain unaddressed in the constituency, despite it being represented by the Chief Minister. Santhanakrishnan, meanwhile, is seeking to consolidate the AIADMK vote base in the area.
Stalin, however, has highlighted a series of development initiatives undertaken in Kolathur, including housing projects, sanitation upgrades, libraries and civic infrastructure improvements. Among them is the “Mudhalvar Padaippagam”, a government-run co-working and learning space, which has been replicated in other constituencies.
The facility, managed by the Greater Chennai Corporation, offers affordable workspace for professionals and students, including low-cost desk rentals and a library with over 1,000 books for competitive exam preparation.
The Chief Minister has also been focusing on welfare outreach in the constituency, regularly interacting with residents through roadshows, public meetings, morning walks and metro rides. He has expressed confidence of retaining the seat with a larger margin.
Kolathur has an electorate strength of 2,07,251 voters. Polling will be held on April 23, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
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